1817: Joseph LaFramboise started a trading post at Fort Pierre, the oldest continuous white settlement in South Dakota

1820-1840: U.S. military expeditions were sent to the area in the 1820s, and Army posts were established in the 1850s. At various times, the area was part of the territories of Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

1823: The Arikara Indians attacked the fur trading party: 12 traders were killed and 11 were wounded (click here for more information about the Arikara Indians)

1858: Yankton Sioux Indians ceded their claim to southeastern Dakota to the United States. Permanent white settlements were established at Yankton and Vermillion. For several years, settlement was confined to the area between the Big Sioux and the Missouri rivers.

1861: Congress created Dakota Territory, which included all of present-day North and South Dakota, Montana, and northern Wyoming (everything from the Minnesota border to the Rocky Mountains). The first counties were established in southeastern Dakota in 1862. The creation of Montana Territory in 1864 and Wyoming Territory in 1868 reduced Dakota Territory to the area included in the two Dakotas of today. (March 2,)

1863: The first homestead filed in the Dakota Territory

1866: (December 21,) Fetterman massacre. Capt. William J. Fetterman of the U.S. Army had boasted he could whip the whole Sioux Indian nation with eighty men. He led that exact number into an ambush by Sioux Indians, along the Bozeman Trail.

1868: A treaty was signed with the Sioux. This continued the Great Sioux Reservation which included the Black Hills.

1874: Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills which led to the opening of that area to white settlement in 1876. About 20,000 people came to South Dakota, but many left after a few months or years. The peak year of the gold rush was 1877.

1940–1945: Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during World War II.

1948: Korcak Ziolkowski began work on Crazy Horse Mountain

1949: Blizzard struck South Dakota; railroad from Pierre to Rapid City was blocked for several weeks and it required air drops of hay to overcome that

1952: Major flood caused damage all through the state, inundated most of Pierre

1950–1953: Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War.

1950's–1960's The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.

1960: Ben Reifel elected as first American Indian to serve in Congress

1962: Oahe Dam completed, started generating electricity

1963: Cold War escalated and ICBM missiles were placed around the state

1964–1972: Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

1972: Flooding in Rapid City area killed over 200 people

1973: Riots by supporters of American Indian Movement occurred at Wounded Knee II and Custom Court House

1980: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad shut several thousand miles of track which affected more than half of state's total railroad mileage; U.S. Congress approved payment to Sioux Indians of $122 millions for compensation of lands seized in 1877.

Historical Content

Histories are great sources of genealogical information. Many contain biographical information about individuals who lived in the area, including:

Parents' names

Maiden names of women

Place of birth, death, or marriage

Occupation

Migration

Military service

Descendants

Local Histories

Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "History" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of South Dakota.

State Histories Useful to Genealogists

Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful.
But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of South Dakota:

History of South Dakota is an especially helpful source for studying the history of South Dakota. [5]

United States History

The following are only a few of the many sources that are available:

The Almanac of American History, [6][7] This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.

Dictionary of American History, Revised ed[8][9] This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at Google books.

Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium[10][11][12] This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.